Mechanical stoker



Dec. 1 1925. v

- R. B. HOLTHAUS ET AL MECHANICAL STOKER F l June 9. 192; 5 Sheets-Sheetl R. B. 'HOLTHAUS ET AL Dec. 1, 1925.

MECHANI CAL STOKER .5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 9.

3n ucufoz R55 0! 2 11a as 6,03171 2 th AAL\\ -m -Ip Dec 1, 1925-1,563,708

RB. HOLTHAUS ET AL MECHANI CAL STOKER Filed June 9, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet4 RBEZi/Zaua,

5m z'f/ZJ Dec. 1,1925. 1,563,708

R, B. HOLTHAU-S ET AL MECHANICAL STOKER Fil d June 9. 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 5 $7.25-

ap SmZf/Z Patented Dec. '1 1925.

. 1,563,708. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mmsronn 3. non-runes AND GEORGE D. SMiTH, oE EnEMon'r, NEBRASKA.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

Application filed June 9,

. do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the" art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. v

The main object of the present invention is the rovision of means forautomatically isupplylng fuelto the firebox of a locomotive engine, saidmeans embodying a crusher for breaking up the lumps of coal and reducingthe same to a convenient size for automatic feding, a conveyor formoving the fuel from the bunker to the firebox, and means fordistributing the fuel in the firelgog to -insure a uniform level of thefiree H 4 I Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggestthemselves asthe nature of the invention is understood.

Whilethe drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to beunderstood that in adapting the same to meet different conditionsia ndrequirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor detailsof construction may be' resorted to without departing from the nature ofthe invention.

' Referring to'the accompanying drawings forming a part of theapplication:

Figure 1 ls a d1agrammat1c .v1ew1llustrative of the invention Figure 2is a view of the forward portion of the conveyor substantially in'central vertical section, I

Figure'3 "is a sectional view of the lower partly in section of themeans for imparting an oscillating movement to the delivery end of theconveyor and controlling the supply of steam to the nozzle,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the valve mechanism forcontrolling RAINSFORD B. HOLT- 1923. Serial No. 6441415."

the supply of steam to the nozzle takenion the line 77 of Figure 6,

Figure '8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 F'gure 9 is a planView of theivalve seat having the crescent shaped port,

Figure 10 is a detail view of the joint between adjacent sections of theconveyor conduit or casing, the parts being separated,

Figure 11 is adetail sectional View of the joint formed between adjacentsections of the conveyor on the" line -11'11 of Figure 3,

Figure 12 is a sectional detail view line 1212 of Figure 3,

Figure 13 is a-sectional line 13--13 of Figure 3, and

Figure 14 is a detail view of the adjust v I able joint in the length ofthe steam pipe.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and desigon the detail View on the I nated in the severalviews of the drawings by like reference characters.

- The numeral 1 designates the rear wall of the firebox of alocomotiveengine and' 2 the grate. The delivery end of a conveyor extends into thefirebox 3-'adjacent the rear wall 1 and terminates in a laterallydisposed nozzle 4 which is so arranged as to deliver I the fuel over thebed in the firebox. The

delivery portion of the conveyor is. vertical ly disposed and is mounted.to receive; .an'

oscillatory movement whereby the fuel is distributed throughout thefirebox. The de livery portion of the conveyor comprises a verticallydisposed conduit or casing, 5-

terminating at its upper end in the laterally disposed nozzle 4. A screwconveyor 6 is mounted within the casing 5 and positively moves the fueltherethrough. The lower end of the casing 5 is connected to the ver-'tical extension 7 of the horizontal portion of the conveyor by means ofa swivel joint 8 which may be of anypreferred construction. A jacket 9surrounds the upper portion of the casing 5 and is supplied with. steamfrom the boiler by means of a pipe 10', a pipe '11 conducting the steamfrom the jacket 9 to a valve mechanism which, controls the supply ofsteam to a pipe 12 terminating in a nozzle 13 opposite the nozzle 4,.whereb to forcibly discharge the fuel through t e nozzle 4 and over thebed of fuel in the firebox; The delivery portion of the pipe 12 extendsthrough the jacket 9 and the nozzle 13 opens intothecasing 5 a pointopposite the ILQZZIQ whereby the blast is discharged across the upperend.

of the boiler and reduce the friction'to the crushing rolls 19 and aconveyor 20. The crushing rolls 19 break smallest amount possible. Theseveral steam pipes 10, 11, 12 and 14 are in sections connected by ayieldable connection or joint as designated at 10, 11 12 and 14,respectively, and as shown in detail in relation to pipe 14, in Figure14; the same structure being carried out in regard to joints 10F, 11,and 12. Each of such connections-or joints is rotatably mounted-on oneof the ipe sections, designated A in Fi ure 14, and slidably connectedat B to the other section of the same pipe.

Cog teeth '16 are provided on the casing 5 and cooperate with a rack bar17 whereby to oscillate the casing 5 and swing the nozzle 4 from oneside to the other of the firebox whereby to distribute the fuelthroughout the same to maintain a uniform depth of fire. A small engine18 imparts a reciprocatory movement to the rack bar 17 with -the resultthat the casing 5 is oscillated. The

engine 18 may be of any approved construction suitable for the purpose.

The numeral 17 designates a coal bunker and a trough 18 is incommunication with the bottom thereof and contains a pair of portion ofa screw up lumps of coal and reduce the same to suitable size to be fedto the firebox by means of the conveyor. A conduit or casin 21 leadsfrom the deliver 18 to the lower end of tlie casing 5 and the screwconveyor 20 operates therein. The crushing rolls 19 are geared at oneend as indicated at 22 and one of the crushing rolls is geared at theopposite end to the screw conveyor 20, as indicated at 23. A suitablemotor 24 is connected by means of a tumbling rod or shaft 25 with thescrew con:

end of the trough veyor 20. Said rod or shaft 25 is in flexiblyconnected sections 25. The screw conveyor 20, its casing 21 and theshaft 25 comprise universally jointed sections; Bevel gearing 26connects the shaft 25 with the screw conveyor 6 and gearing 27 connectsthe opposite end of the shaft with the screw com'eyor 20. The casingcomprises sections 21, 21 and 21 which are coupled by means of separableuniversal joints 28 and the screw conveyor 20 is likewise formed ofsections which are coupled by means of separable universal or thepurpose of illustration,

joints29 whereby, in the event of the tender .separating from thelocomotive, the parts of The valve mechanism for controlling the supplyof steam to the nozzle 13 comprises a casing .31 in which is located avalve seat 32 and a valve 33. The supply pipe 11 connects with the valvecasing 31 upon one side of the valve seat 32 and the distributing pipe12connects with the valve casing 31 upon the opposite side of the valveseat 32. It will thus be understood that the valve mechanism is locatedbetween the supply anddistributing pipes The valve receives anoscillatory movement, and is held "upon the seat32'by means of a spring34.

The stem 35 of the valve 33 is connected by means of an arm 36 with therack bar 1.7 and in this manner, the valve mechanism controllingthesupply of steam to the nozzle 13 is operated simultaneously with thedelivcry portion 5 of the fuel feeder. The-port 37.v in the valve seat32 is of crescent form, thereby diminishing from a central point towardsopposite ends. The port 38 in the valve 33 consists of an openingcorrespond ing with a middle portion of the port or opening 37. When thenozzle 4 isintermediate its extreme movements, the valve 33 occupies aposition with the opening 38 opposite the center of the port 37 and asthe nozzle 4 moves to one side or the other, the valve 33correspondingly moves, thereby causing the opening 38 to'move over anend 3' portion of the port 37, thereby reducing the sup 1y of steam andthe force of the delivery at t e nozzle 13. WVhen the nozzle 4 pointsstraight ahead, the distance to the front wall of the firebox isgreatest and when the nozzle 4 extends laterally in either direction,the distance between it and a side wall of the firebox is materiallyreduced, hence the force of the blast is proportionately reduced. As aresult of the arrangement, the strength of the'blast delivering the fuelis proportionate to the distance of distribution and this is taken careof by means of the'valve mechanism comprising the elements 32 and Ill!fuel throughout the firebox, means to deliver a blast of steam acrosssaid movable section and through said nozzle to effectively deliver thefuel, and means operated by the 'first mentioned means to vary the forceof the blast. I

2. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel feeder comprising a vertical and ahorizontal portion, said vertical portion including a discharge nozzleand a conduit for the fuel,

means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said vertical section anddischarge nozzle, means todeliver a blast of steam across said verticalsection and through said nozzle to effectively deliver the fuel, andmeans operated by the first mentioned means to vary the force of theblast.

In a mechanical stoker, a fuel feeder having a conduit sectionconstituting a discharge nozzle, means to automatically veyor, means.for automatically imparting an oscillatory movement to the deliveryportion of the conveyor, and a valve mechanism controlled by theoperating means for the delivery portion of the conveyor, whereby toregulate the force of the blast so as to project the fuel differentdistances.

5. In a mechanical stoker, a fuel feeder having a movable sectionfunctioning dually as a discharge nozzle and as a feed conduit, meansoperating automatically to impart an oscillatory movement to saidmovable section in order to distribute the fuel throughout the firebox,means to deliver a blast of steam across said movable section andthrough said nozzle to effectively deliver the fuel, and a control valvefor said last mentioned means operating under control of the firstmentioned means to vary the blast from the nozzle, said valve includingplates one movable relatively to the other and having coacting ports,one of the ports being substantially crescent shape to control thesupply of steam so as to project the fuel different distances.

In testimony whereofwe afiix our signatures.

RAIN SFORD B. HOL'IHAUS. GEORGE D. SMITH.

